Muffler



Dec. 24, 1963 E. A. BEMBINSTER MUFFLER Filed May 11, 1960 5 W m m. fi U U 1% fi United States Patent The present invention relates to a muffler for internal combustion engines such as in automobiles.

A main object of the invention is to provide a muffler that, in addition to its mutlling function, serves to eliminate or minimize smog-producing substances.

Smog conditions, at least in certain localities, have reached serious proportions, and a main factor, if not the greatest factor, in producing such smog conditions are the products of combustion produced by automobiles.

The gasoline is not perfectly burned in an automobile and many unburned particles are expelled in the exhaust from automobiles, which till the atmosphere to the detriment of those living in the localities concerned.

Another and broad object of the invention is to provide muffler which is operative for causing substantially complete combustion of combustible products that are otherwise unburned and expelled from an internal combustion engine such as in an automobile.

zleretofore mufflers generally, if not universally, have been designed for operating cool, with special design for maximum dissipation of heat therefrom. As contrasted therewith, the mufiler of the present invention is designed for operating hot, and at such temperatures that combustible products of the com ustion in an internal combustion engine that would otherwise be unburned, are substantially completely burned in this muffler, and it is therefore another and broad object of the invention to provide muliier capable of producing high temperatures therein for burning such combustible products.

Another and specific object of the invention is to provide a muffler having an encasing layer of heat insulation for producing high temperatures therein for burning combustible products expelled from an internal combustion engine.

A further obiect is to provide a muffler of the general character noted above having a mass of muffling material therein providing large area surface to the gases flowing "'ierethrough, and hence providing highly effective mufliing and burning action.

A further and more specific object is to provide a mufiler of the character noted in which the muii'ling means is a mass of shredded material, substantially filling the interior of the mufller housing and providing virtually an infinite number of mufiing surfaces, whereby the gases passing through the muilier are heated to extremely high temperatures, for burning materials that otherwise would be unburned.

Another object is to provide a mufder of the foregoing character having novel construction including a cartridge removable and replaceable as a package and thereby facilitating removal and replacement of the muliling material.

A still further object is to provide a muffler of the foregoing character including a housing of rust-proof material whereby to prevent corrosion thereof which may otherwise occur due to the extremely high temperatures encountered.

Still another object is to provide a mufiler including removable and replaceable end pieces whereby by utilizing end pieces of different sizes, tail pipes of dilferent sizes can be accommodated by merely utilizing selected end pieces to adapt the mother to the particular automobile.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will apear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FlGURE l is an axial sectional view of a muliier made Patented Dec. 2 t,

according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the muffler of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational View of the cartridge of the muflier of FIGURE 1, removed from the housing;

HQ. 4 is an end view of the cartridge of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view of the perforated confining plate used in the cartridge;

FIG. 6 is a view of the inner side of one of the end pieces of the rnufiler; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the completed muffler, indicating different sizes of end pieces adaptable thereto.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a mutlier made according to the present invention is shown in its entirety in FIGURE 1 which is an axial sectional view through the complete muffler. 1 he muiiler l1? includes a housing indicated in its entirety at lid, a cartridge it: also shown in PEG. 3, and a securing means 13 securing the detachable parts of the housing together and confining the cartridge in the housing.

The housing 14 includes a wall element 315 which preferably is of uniform cylindrical construction, and end pieces Ztl which are identical in construction and a description of one will serve for both. The housing, including the cylindrical wall element 15 and the end pieces 26 are of non-corrosive, non-rust material such as aluminum, to withstand the rusting inclinations of the moisture passing through the muilier, and other corroding agents. The aluminum material also is capable of withstanding the relatively higher temperaaures encountered in the mother of the present invention as referred to hereinbelow.

Each end piece 2'13 includes an annular disc element 22 and a tubular extension 24 defining a passage 26 therethrough. The inner surface of the tubular element is preferably tapered for aiding in securing the parts of the muffler together by a securing means l8 through the medium of anchor elements described hereinbelow. The annular element 2?. is provided with an inner rib 3b and an outer rib on its inner surface and extending toward the interior of the mufrler in the assembly of the parts, for cooperation in confining the cartridge the contents thereof in the muffler. The outer rib 332 is spaced inwardly from the marginal edge of the annular element for telescoping into the cylindrical wall element l5 and frictional engagement therewith, the parts being of identical outer diameter to provide a flush exterior c lindrical surface.

The cartridge in basically is in the form of a cylinder having ends that are, for the most part, open, but with shoulder areas for use in con'in'iing the muifling material reinbeiow.

is made of Slil c wall .1 construcj in a paint .ped in cross secead has a portion .JJ crimped over the end vall elemer another portion itl reverse y inner rib the (31d pi n. lie-r, the d. sions of t portion is rcce two ribs and shoulder he dimensions of the parts furthermore ..l direction u e 1 3 to prevent undue movement -or crrective muff no and heat-developing properties,

known material. it includes shredded or filamentary eleend edges of the outside wall e1 cut 125, that also snugly engages the ends of the car" or rattling of the parts of tnc r "i The car ridge ll-Zi contains a in ing material in i ated 1r th mui'iiing material being in the form of a shredded material such as brass. This shredded metal in itself is a r of sucn immense n nber and such irregular shapes r number of surfaces to the gases passi 0 through the muffler, causing a highly eifective mui 'ling action. Furthermore, because of their irregular shapes, and their relatively high rigidity, they provide a hi h void-to-solid ratio, and even when matted r relatively highly compresse this ratio rema" s quite high. an example of this property of the material,

of this shredded brass is utilized that in total V'Ollllll the solid po 'uns thereof would occupy on the order of l.3% of tne total volume of interior of the cartridge nicn it is confined.

defining the sp ce in M Obviously, I do not wish to be limited to any such exact percentage, and a wide range of ratios is Well within the concept of the invention.

This mass of shredded material as is confined Within lie cartridge by the end plates 4drefcrred to above and wn in FIGS. 4 and 5. These end plates are provided tees to readily pass therethrough, but leaving sufficient strength in the plates to withstand the pressures involved. These perforations may be placed t random or in any desired arrangement. A central perture 5%- may be provided of larger size to receive the ring means is. The plates as will be noted in are of truncated disc form having circular edges 52 defining a transverse dimension nearly equal to the inner diameter of the cylindrical wall element 34, and

sion slightly less than the inner diameter of the bead This shape of the plates enables the plates to be inserted through the opening defined by the beads in and after full inseration into the housing of the cartridge, to enable the long dimension portions to engage under the shoulder As noted above, the mufiier of this invention is designed for operatin hot so as to eliminate or minimize, through the medium of combustion, undesired but combustible products in the gases passing through the mufiler. Accordingly, the cartridge is provided with a layer of heat insulation, this layer being indicated at E6 and forming the outermost element of the cartridge. This insulation 56 is preferably in the form of fiber glass and may be matted or compacted to provide firm construction to retain the nrufiler housing and cartridge housing, spaced in diametrical di ctions while still retaining the desired insulating qualities. Preferably this insulation material l d to the Wall element for normal non-removabiliiy and may be so confined by suitable means such as strips of adhesive The cartridge with the insula tion material thereon forms a relatively rigid and unitary construction well adapted for bodily insertion into and removal from he munier housing.

T28 anchor elements may be of any suitable con struction and preferably are made up of two individual strips es fitted flat together and having semi-cylindrical central portions 62 with the concave sides racing each other and secured toge her by means such as rivets 6 The comic 'uIiCEEl portions 62 define tubular elements for receiving the rod. The rod is provided with a head securing the parts of the mother together. These anchor pieces have inclined end surfaces for engaging the tapered inner surfaces of the tubular elements 24 for producing a wedging action with those surfaces, in response to tightening of the rod The flat configuration of the cct tor iii-inn,

ill

' H 1 .1 v passing tlnougn tire nrutil vnn r, ring mm a w relatively ni n a, ressure and consequent slower movement of v13 iry builds up a ufiler the gases through the niullier. A satsiiuctory internal pressure has been found to be in the ne iborhood 2 lbs. per square inch, but it will be understood the invention is not l' 'ted to this precise pressure. The longer per od in "h ch the gases consequently the higher pressures encountered develop or temperatures, this condition being further e11 bane-ed by the presence of the insulation material These higher temperatures which exist in the rnufiler result in combustion or" substantially all of the combustible ma ter' that are discharged in the exhaust of inter comb stion engines. in quantity of oxygen is conts ed in these ust gases. "f refore these combustimateriuls are 1 citing the atmosphere in unburned condition, and since these i 1 cause a greats portion of ti 3 smog conditions encountered in various iocalit' s, this irut'fier is highly efiective for preventthose smog conditions. Furthermore, the higher tein- :eratures encounte'ed vaporize all of the moisture eond in the exhaust gases and this prevents rust to the surfaces of the various parts of the n uiiier. The muffler is for producing internal temperatures in the region of 400 F. or 500 P. which I have found to be l Ily e'iiective for producing the combustion effects referred to. The insulation material 56, while causthe interior of tle mufiler to run hot, minimizes the transmisison of heat to the outer Wall element and this fact, together with the passage of air over the outer surface of the mufiier, retains the wall element 15 relatively cool.

The end pieces 2t} being detachable from the remainde-r of the muffler enable replacement of other and substitute end pieces of various sizes and shapes, enabling adaptation of a single muffier to any of various sizes of automobiles or trucks.

In FIG. 7 is shown a muffler in full lines having end pieces 20 of a predetermined size to which are attached tail pieces 64. If desired, these end pieces may be replaced by small end pieces 66, or larger end pieces 68, and since all other parts of the mufller may remain the same, a single mufiler may be easily adapted to any of various sizes of automobiles or trucks.

in the event that the interior of the rnufiler should seriously deteriorate over a period of time due to the relatively high temperatures involved, the construction enables quick and easy replacement of the cartridge 16. By removing one or both of the end pieces, the cartridge may be removed and a. new and complete cartridge insorted in replacement thereof. Replacing the end pieces and locking the parts together requires only a relatively short period of time.

While I have herein shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that changes may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A muifier of the character disclosed comprising a housing of rust-proof material including a tubular wall element and end members removabl secured thereto, said end members having openings for passage therethrourgh of gases passing through the housing, and a selfcontained, unitary cartridge removably contained in said housing including a tubular rigid member having open ends, a mass of shredded material in said tubular member presenting an infinite number of surfaces for mufiling gases passing through the muffler, perforated end plates in said tubular member confining the mass of material therein, and a tubular layer of high heat insulation material encircling said tubular member, said cartridge being insertable into and removable from said tubular Wall element of the housing, and the muffler also including securing means passing, through the cartridge and thus the interior of the housing, and passing at least partially into the openings in the end members, engaging the end members for removably securing the end members and tubular wall element together in a rigid assembly forming the housing and confining the cartridge therein.

2. The mufiler set out in claim 1 in which the tubular member of the cartridge has a radially inturned head at each end forming an annular shoulder, and each perfonated end plate has relatively long and short mutually transverse dimensions, the shorter dimension enabling the end plate to be passed through the bead, and the longer dimension enabling end portions of the end plate to engage said annular shoulder when the end plate is disposed generally perpendicular to the axis of the cartridge.

3. A mufiler of the character disclosed comprising a housing of rustproof material including a tubular wall element and end mem bers removably secured thereto, said end members having openings for passage therethrough of gases passing through the housing, and a selfcontained cartridge in said housing including a tubular rigid member having open ends, a mass of shredded material in said tubular member presenting an infinite number of surfaces for muffling gases passing through the muffier, perforated end plates in said tubular member confining the mass of material therein, and a tubular layer of high heat insulation material encircling said tubular member, said cartridge being insertable into and removable from said tubular wall element of the housing, and the mufller also including securing means passing through the cartridge and thus the interior of the housing, and passing at least partially into the openings in the end members, engaging the end members for removably securing the end members and tubular wall element together in a rigid assembly forming the housing and confining the cartridge therein, said end means having tubular extensions forming said openings therein, the inner surface of said tubular extensions being tapered inwardly, and the securing means including a rod extending through the muffler and anchoring members wedged in said tubular extensions through which the rod projects, and removable securing means on the ends of said rod outwardly of said anchoring members.

4. A mufiler for silencing and completing combustion of gaseous waste products expelled from an internal combustion engine comprising a rustproo-t" housing including a tubular wall element and end members detachably secured thereto, said end members each being perforate to admit and discharge the gaseous waste products expelled from said internal combustion engine, a tubular elongated cartridge located within said housing and slidably insertable thereinto and removable therefrom through which said gases pass, a tubular sleeve of heatresistant insulating material surrounding said cartridge and disposed between said cartridge and said tubular wall element of said housing for maintaining elevated temperatures within said cartridge, means engageablewith said end members extending through said housing longitudinally of said cartridge and insertable through said cartridge for removably securing the end members of said housing to said tubular wall element of said housing and for locating said cartridge within said housing, said elongated removable cartridge including a tubular cartridge Wall element, mufiiing means within said tubular cartridge wall element including a mass of shredded material presenting substantially an infinite number of surfaces for muffling and burning gases passing through the cartridge, and means at the ends of the tubular cartridge wall element for retaining said tmufiiing means there within and for admitting and discharging gases introduced into said muiiier, whereby the combustible portions of gaseous wastes expelled from an internal combustion engine with which said mutiler is associated are burned and mui'fled simultaneously.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the tubular sleeve of heat-resistant insulating material is connected to the elongated cartridge and is removable from and insertahle into the housing with said cartridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 744,495 Corse Nov. 17, 1903 1,622,692 Wendling Mar. 24, 1927 1,627,324 Green May 3, 1927 1,695,554 Markels Dec. 18, 1928 1,824,078 Fischer Sept. 22, 1931 2,004,865 Grison June 11, 1935 2,025,271 Compo Dec. 24, 1935 2,038,567 Ittner Apr. 28, 1936 2,174,626 Fogas Oct. 3, 1939 2,705,541 Finch Apr. 5, 1955 2,837,169 Sawyer June 3, 1958 2,981,057 Buttler Apr. 25, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 17:7,972 Austria Mar. 25, 1954 9,414 Great Britain Oct. 9, 1913 312,200 Great Britain May 21, 1929 338,933 Great Britain Nov. 24, '1930 

1. A MUFFLER OF THE CHARACTER DISCLOSED COMPRISING A HOUSING OF RUST-PROOF MATERIAL INCLUDING A TUBULAR WALL ELEMENT AND END MEMBERS REMOVABLY SECURED THERETO, SAID END MEMBERS HAVING OPENINGS FOR PASSAGE THERETHROUGH OF GASES PASSING THROUGH THE HOUSING, AND A SELFCONTAINED, UNITARY CARTRIDGE REMOVABLY CONTAINED IN SAID HOUSING INCLUDING A TUBULAR RIGID MEMBER HAVING OPEN ENDS, A MASS OF SHREDDED MATERIAL IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER PRESENTING AN INFINITE NUMBER OF SURFACES FOR MUFFLING GASES PASSING THROUGH THE MUFFLER, PERFORATED END PLATES IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER CONFINING THE MASS OF MATERIAL THEREIN, AND A TUBULAR LAYER OF HIGH HEAT INSULATION MATERIAL ENCIRCLING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID CARTRIDGE BEING INSERTABLE INTO AND REMOVABLE FROM SAID TUBULAR WALL ELECMENT OF THE HOUSING, AND THE MUFFLER ALSO INCLUDING SECURING MEANS PASSING, THROUGH THE CARTRIDGE AND THUS THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSING, AND PASSING AT LEAST PARTIALLY INTO THE OPENINGS IN THE END MEMBERS, ENGAGING THE END MEMBERS FOR REMOVABLY SECURING THE END MEMBERS AND TUBULAR WALL ELEMENT TOGETHER IN A RIGID ASSEMBLY FORMING THE HOUSING AND CONFINING THE CARTRIDGE THEREIN. 